Category: Pacific Coast AAA Football Leagues (1927-1948)

American Football Leagues Era AAA Champions 1926-1949

All-America Football Conference Logo [Reference: 1]
All-America Football Conference Logo [Reference: 1]

American Football Leagues Champions

YearLeagueRegionWinnersPWLT
1926AFL IE/MPhiladelphia Quakers9720
1934AFL IIS/MSt. Louis / Kansas City Blues8701
1936AFL IIIE/M/WBoston Shamrocks11830
1937AFL IIIE/M/WLos Angeles Bulldogs8800
1938AFL IVS/M/WEast Chicago Indians6510
1939AFL IVS/M/WLos Angeles Bulldogs8710
1940AFL VE/MColumbus Bullies10811
1941AFL VE/MColumbus Bullies8512
1944AFL VIWHollywood Rangers111100
1946AAFCE/M/S/WCleveland Browns151320
1947AAFCE/M/S/WCleveland Browns151311
1948AAFCE/M/S/WCleveland Browns151500
1949AAFCE/M/S/WCleveland Browns141211
American Football Leagues Champions 1926-1949 [Ref: 1-12]

AAFC Championship Games

YearWinnersRunners-Up
1946Cleveland Browns14New York Yankees9
1947Cleveland BrownsWNew York YankeesL
1948Cleveland Browns49Buffalo Bills7
1949Cleveland Browns21San Francisco 49ers7
All-America Football Conference Championship Games [Ref: 12]

Pacific Coast League Champions

YearLeagueRegionTeamPWLT
1927CWLW/M/ELos Angeles Buccaneers5320
1928CWLW/M/ENew York Yankees6321
1940PCFLWLos Angeles Bulldogs10721
1941PCFLWHollywood Bears8800
1942PCFLWSan Diego Bombers5410
1943PCFLWSan Diego Bombers10730
1944PCFLWSan Diego Bombers9900
1945PCFLWHollywood Bears11821
1946PCFLWLos Angeles Bulldogs131021
1947PCFLWHawaiian Warriors9720
1948PCFLWHawaiian Warriors6510
Pacific Coast Pro Football League Champions 1927-1948 [Ref: 4; 12-13]

Pacific Coast Championship

DateHome TeamAway Team
PCFL v AFL
1944Hollywood Rangers (AFL)42San Diego Bombers (PCFL)7
1944San Diego Bombers (PCFL)10Hollywood Rangers (AFL)21
PCFL North v PCFL South
1946Los Angeles Bulldogs38Tacoma Indians7
Pacific Coast Championship Games 1944 [Ref: 12-13]

Report

From 1926 to 1949 there were numerous Leagues which styled themselves as Major League Rivals to the National Football League. Most of these Leagues called themselves the “American Football League” and were based in two or three regions of the USA. Only the All-American Football Conference of 1946 to 1949 was countrywide with teams in the East, MidWest, South and West.

What is most notable about these Leagues from the point of view of NFL fans is that the Los Angeles Rams (then based in Cleveland), Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers all started in one of these Leagues before joining the NFL. The NFl (or AFL of the 1960ss which merged with the NFL) reused some of the team names (Baltimore Colts, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals).

Winners of these Leagues were: Philadelphia Quakers (1926), St. Louis / Kansas City Blues (1934), Boston Shamrocks (1936), Los Angeles Bulldogs (1937, 1939), East Chicago Indians (1938), Columbus Bullies (1940-1941), Hollywood Rangers (1944) and Cleveland Browns (1946-1949).

There was also a AAA League on the West Coast of America during the 1940s, booming because of the amount of soldiers stationed there during WWII. Winners of this League were: Los Angeles Bulldogs (1940. 1946), Hollywood Bears (1941, 1945), San Diego Bombers (1942-1944), Hawaiian Warriors (1947, 1948).

The first attempt at taking advantage of West Coast appetite for American Football was the California Winter League of 1927 to 1928 when NFL and AFL teams toured the Pacific Coast arranging matches against teams in California, with League Champions being Los Angeles Buccaneers (1927) and New York Yankees (1928).

References

Websites

[1] Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005) American Football League Standings (1926) [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballhof.com/news/american-football-league-standings-1926/ [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[2] The Growth of a Game (2015) The Complete List of European NFL Players [Internet] Available from: https://www.growthofagame.com/2015/03/the-complete-list-of-european-nfl-players/ [Accessed 11 October 2019]

[3] Pro Football Archives (2019) |Con O’Brien [Internet] Available from:https://www.profootballarchives.com/playero/obri00400.html [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[4] Bob Gill (2009) Seasons in the Sun – The California winter league of 1927 and ’28 The Coffin Corner Volume 31,No. 1, Pro Football Researchers Association (2009)[Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/coffin-corner00’s/CC-31-1.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2019]

[5] Bob Gill, The Coffin Corner, Pro Football Researchers Association (1991) Tigers Roar in Tennessee [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/13-03-425.pdf [Accessed 9 October 2018]

[6] Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005) American Football League Standings (1936-37) [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballhof.com/news/american-football-league-standings-1936-37/ [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[7] Bob Gill, The Coffin Corner, Pro Football Researchers Association (1989) Back Before Bengalmania – Cincinnati’s First Brush with the Big Time – [Internet] Available from: http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/11-05-379.pdf [Accessed 9 October 2018]

[8] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1938 | American Football League [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1938.html [Accessed 12 October 2019]

[9] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1939 | American Football League [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1939.html [Accessed 12 October 2019]

[10] Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005) American Football League (1940-1941) [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballhof.com/news/american-football-league-1940-1941/ [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[11] Pro Football Hall of Fame (2005) All-America Football Conference (AAFC) Standings (1946-1949) [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballhof.com/news/all-america-football-conference-aafc-standings-1946-1949/ [Accessed 5 June 2017]

[12] PCPFL: 1940-45 – Bob Gill, The Coffin Corner, Pro Football Researchers Association (1982) Pacific Coast Pro Football League [Internet] Available from: 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine. – https://web.archive.org/web/20110726192703/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/04-07-104.pdf [Accessed 19 January 2018]

[13] The End of the PCPFL – Bob Gill, The Coffin Corner, Pro Football Researchers Association (1982) The End of the PCPFL [Internet] Available from: http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/05-04-135.pdf [Accessed 9 October 2018]

Images

[14] Wikipedia (2018) All-America Football Conference Logo [Internet] Available from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/11/All-America_Football_Conference_%28logo%29.png [Accessed 8 October 2018]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to John Wills, Jean-Paul O’Flynn, John Kane, John Cummins, John Morahan & John Doody

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

World Gridiron Archive

Last Updated: 6 July 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and World Gridiron Archive 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.

California Winter League 1928

Final Standings 1928

PWLTPFPAPct
*New York Yankees63214239.600
*Cleveland Bulldogs52213834.500
Los Angeles Wildcats42111912.667
Duluth Giants30211933.000
California Winter League Final Standings 1928 [Ref: Compiled from results in 1]

Reference: Compiled from Results in [1] Note: Includes Championship Game.

Championship Game

DateHome TeamAway Team
Championship Game
05.02.1928New York Yankees13Cleveland Bulldogs6
California Winter League Championship Game 1928 [Ref: 1]

Results

DateHome TeamAway Team
Week 1
02.01.1928Los Angeles Wildcats6New York Yankees0
Week 2
08.01.1928Los Angeles Wildcats7New York Yankees0
08.01.1928Duluth Giants6Cleveland Bulldogs13
Week 3
15.01.1928Los Angeles Wildcats6Cleveland Bulldogs12
15.01.1928Duluth Giants0New York Yankees7
Week 4
22.01.1928New York Yankeees9Cleveland Bulldogs7
22.01.1928Los Angeles WildcatscDuluth Giantsc
Week 5
29.01.1928Los Angeles Wildcats 0Cleveland Bulldogs0
29.01.1928Duluth Giants13New York Yankees13
California Winter League Results 1928 [Ref: 1]

Report

In the Winter of January-February 1927 & 1928, some of the top teams in the National Football League & American Football League played in a Winter League in California, following the end of the Fall (Autumn) NFL & AFL seasons. The teams included star players from college teams in California and were dubbed after the teams’ star NFL & AFL players. e.g. the Nevers Eskimoes were the Duluth Eskimoes of the NFL with star player, Ernie Nevers.

For the second year in a row the Duluth Eskimoes and New York Yankees ended their seasons by competing in a Winter League in California over January and February 1928. They were joined this time by the Cleveland Bulldogs.

There were no Pacific Coast Football League teams this year, however, the Duluth Eskimoes included many Californian College players on their roster, and were dubbed Nevers-Imlay Giants by the press (after their two star players – Ernie Nevers of the Eskimoes and Tut Imlay from the Californian Colleges). The Los Angeles Wildcats, previously of the American Football League, named Wilson’s Wildcats by the Press, made up the final team in the four team league.

The Wildcats won their opening two fixtures against the Yankees, before dropping a game to the Cleveland Bulldogs. Their fourth game, against the Duluth Giants was cancelled, and they tied their last game 0-0 with the Bulldogs.

The Yankees recovered from their defeats to the Wildcats to defeat the Bulldogs and tie with the Giants, and the Bulldogs had started their season with a win over the Giants and Wildcats, before losing to the Yankees and tying their last game.

Despite being the best team on the circuit for the second year in a row, the Los Angeles Wildcats were not invited to the season ending Finale, their place insted going to the Yankees as they were a better draw for the fans, even though they had lost both games to the LA team.

The Yankees made no mistake in their second California Winter League Finale, winning 13-6 against Friedmann’s Bulldogs.

The League was essentially a AAA League/Major League Rival to the NFL from 1927-1928, featuring both star NFL & AFL teamxs and players and teams and players from the Semi-Pro Pacific Coast Football League and Californian College players.

Teams & Star Players

TeamNFL/AFL/PCFL TeamStar Players
Grange’s YankeesNew York Yankees (NFL Fall 1927)Red Grange
Wilson’s WildcatsLos Angeles Wildcats (AFL)Wildcat Wilson
Friedman’s BulldogsCleveland Bulldogs (NFL)Benny Friedman
Nevers-Imlay GiantsDuluth Eskimoes (NFL) & Californian College PlayersErnie Nevers & Tut Imlay
(College Player)
California Winter League 1928 [Ref: 1]

Reference: [1]

Bob Gill (2009) Seasons in the Sun – The California winter league of 1927 and ’28 The Coffin Corner Volume 31,No. 1, Pro Football Researchers Association (2009)[Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/coffin-corner00’s/CC-31-1.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Eoin O’Fearghaill.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 14 May 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.

California Winter League 1927

CWL 1927

PWLTPFPAPct
Los Angeles Buccaneers (C)53205643.600
New York Yankees42207443.500
Los Angeles Wildcats22004571.000
Duluth Eskimoes52303934.400
Hollywood Generals31201979.333
California All-Stars3120936.333
California Winter League 1927 [Ref: Compiled from Results in: 1]

Note: Includes Championship Series (C) Champions.

DateTeam 1Team 2
Championship Series
30.01.1927New York Yankees14Los Angeles Buccaneers0
06.02.1927Los Angeles Buccaneers7New York Yankees6
California Winter League Championship series 1927 [Ref: 1]

Results

DateHome TeamAway Team
18.12.1927California All-Stars0Duluth Eskimoes19
25.12.1927Hollywood Generals6Duluth Eskimoes3
26.12.1927California All-Stars9Duluth Eskimoes7
02.01.1927California All-Stars0Duluth Eskimoes10
09.01.1927Los Angeles Buccaneers19Duluth Eskimoes0
09.01.1927Los Angeles Wildcats28Hollywood Generals7
16.01.1927Los Angeles Buccaneers30New York Yankees6
23.01.1927Hollywood Generals6New York Yankees48
23.01.1927Los Angeles Wildcats17Los Angeles Buccaneers0

Report

In the Winter of January-February 1927 & 1928, some of the top teams in the National Football League & American Football League played in a Winter League in California, following the end of the Fall (Autumn) NFL & AFL seasons. The teams included star players from college teams in California and were dubbed after the teams’ star NFL & AFL players. e.g. the Nevers Eskimoes were the Duluth Eskimoes of the NFL with star player, Ernie Nevers.

The Duluth Eskimoes opened with 19-0 victory over the California All-Stars, a Pacific Coast Football League All-Star team made up of players from the Oakland and San Francisco franchises. They then lost to both the Hollywood Generals and California All-Stars, before winning the third match against the All-Stars, and finishing their tour with a loss to the Los Angeles Buccaneers (dubbed Muller’s Californians by the Press). The Los Angeles Wildcats also beat the Hollywood Generals on that day.

The New York Yankees, with star player, Red Grange then started their tour the following week (16 January 1927), with a loss to the Los Angeles Buccaneers, and then beating the Hollywood Generals. The same day the Los Angeles Wildcats beat the Los Angeles Buccaneers 17-0, but were not invited to the season ending series of games as they were not the draw the organizers wanted.

Instead, the Los Angeles Buccaneers met the New York Yankees for a shot at the title, and lost the first match 14-0, before winning the second, and last match 7-6, to finish the seson with three wins, and the unofficial Champions.

The League was essentially a AAA League/Major League Rival to the NFL from 1927-1928, featuring both star NFL & AFL teamxs and players and teams and players from the Semi-Pro Pacific Coast Football League and Californian College players.

Teams & Star Players

TeamNFL/AFL/PCFL TeamStar Players
Muller’s CaliforniansLos Angeles Buccaneers (NFL)Brick Muller
Wilson’s WildcatsLos Angeles Wildcats (AFL)Wildcat Wilson
Grange’s YankeesNew York Yankees (AFL Fall 1926)Red Grange
Nevers’ EskimoesDuluth Eskimoes (NFL)Ernie Nevers
Hollywood GeneralsHollywood Generals (PCFL)Semi-Pro Team
California All-StarsOakland and San Francisco (PCFL)Semi-Pro Team
California Winter League Teams and Star Players 1927 [Ref: 1]

Reference: [1]

Bob Gill (2009) Seasons in the Sun – The California winter league of 1927 and ’28 The Coffin Corner Volume 31,No. 1, Pro Football Researchers Association (2009)[Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/coffin-corner00’s/CC-31-1.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Eoin O’Fearghaill.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 14 May 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.